Compound for stiffening hats



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN COOPER, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

COMPOUND FOR STIFFENING HATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,328, dated May 25,1897.

Application filed March 6, 1897. Serial No! 626,341. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN COOPER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Danbury, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Compound forstiffening Hats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and'exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention has for its object to produce a compound for stiffeninghats which shall perfectly meet the requirements of the trade and shallbe simple and inexpensive to produce.

lViththese ends in view my novel compound consists of the followingingredients compounded in substantially the proportions specified, viz:shellac, one hundred pounds; alcohol, twelve gallons, (either wood orgrain alcohol may be used gasolene, six gallons, (benzene, naphtha, orkerosene may be substituted, if preferred;) linseed-oil, (preferablyboiled,) one quart; paraffin-wax, two to eight ounces; turpentine, onequart. The shellac, ten gallons of alcohol, and the gasolene may be putin a revolving barrel or other mixing apparatus. The paraffin-wax isdissolved in the boiled linseed-oil by heating, and the turpentine isadded. These ingredients are then mixed with two gallons of alcohol andput into the barrel or other mixing apparatus with the other ingredientsand are thoroughly mixed together.

I do not desire to limit myself to the exact quantities stated above, asthe quantities of all the ingredients may be varied withinreasonablelimits Without changing, essentially, the character of the compound.Where an exceedingly stiff compound is desired, the quantity of shellacmay be increased, and vice versa. I

In numerous experiments I have discovered that with the ingredientsabove stated, compounded in substantially the proportions specified, Iam able to produce a stiffening compound of the very best quality and atreasonable expense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim*- The herein-describedcompound for stiffening hats consisting of shellac, alcohol, gasolene,linseed-oil, paraffin-wax and turpentine in substantially theproportions specified.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

BENJAMIN COOPER.

IVitnesses WILLIAM H. CABLE, HENRY A. PURDY.

